Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R102AY039SD
Shallow Peatland
Last updated: 8/20/2024
Accessed: 11/21/2024
General information
Provisional. A provisional ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model and enough information to identify the ecological site.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 102A–Rolling Till Prairie
The Rolling Till Prairie (102A) is located within the Central Feed Grains and Livestock Land Resource Region. It spans 3 states (Minnesota 58 percent, South Dakota 42 percent, and small part in North Dakota), encompassing over 16,000 square miles (Figure 1). The elevation ranges from approximately over 2,000 feet above sea level (ASL) on the Prairie Coteau in Northeastern South Dakota to about 1,000 feet ASL on lowlands. The dominate landform in this area are stagnation moraines, end moraines, glacial outwash plains, terraces, and flood plains. The area is dominated by till covered moraines. The stagnation moraines are gently undulating to steep and have many depressions and poorly defined drainages. Small outwash areas are adjacent to the watercourses. The Cretaceous Pierre Shale underlies the till in the most of the area. Precambrian rocks also occur at depth. Granite is quarried near Milbank, South Dakota and outcrops of Sioux Quartzite are common. (USDA-NRCS 2006).
The dominant soil order in this MLRA is Mollisols. The soils in the area dominantly have a frigid soil temperature regime, an aquic or udic soil moisture regime, and mixed mineralogy. They generally are very deep, well drained to very poorly drained. This area supports true prairie vegetation characterized by big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), porcupinegrass (Hesperostipa spartea), and green needlegrass (Nassella viridula). Prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata) commonly grows in wet areas. (USDA-NRCS 2006).
Classification relationships
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): Rolling Till Prairie (102A) (USDA-NRCS 2006)
USFS Subregions: North Central Glaciated Plains Section (251B); Upper Minnesota River-Des Moines Lobe Subsection (251Ba); Outer Coteau des Prairies Subsection (251Bb); Northwest Iowa Plains Subsection (251Bd); Minnesota and Northeast Iowa Morainal-Oak Savannah Section (222M); Alexandria Moraine-Hardwood Hills Subsection (222Ma) (Cleland et al. 2007).
US EPA Level IV Ecoregion: Tewaukon/Big Stone Stagnation Moraine (46e), Prairie Coteau (46k), Prairie Coteau Escarpment (46l), Big Sioux Basin (46m), Minnesota River Prairie (46o), Des Moines Lobe (47b) , Lake Agassiz Plains (48d), Alexandria Moraines and Detroit Lakes Outwash Plain (51j) (USEPA 2013)
Ecological site concept
The Shallow Peatland ecological site typically occur on level or slightly concave landscape positions, (slopes 0 – 1%) on depressions in uplands, along streams and drainageways, and less often as floating mats on lakeshores. Soil surface textures are muck or sapric peat (Histic Humaquepts to Terric Haplosaprists). Organic sediments are typically shallow, but can be >16 inches (40 cm) deep. Soils are very poorly drained, formed in thin mantles of highly decomposed organic soil material, overlying loamy, calcareous till or lacustrine sediments on lake plains, glacial moraines, and till plains. Permeability is moderate in the organic material, rapid in the sandy sediments, and moderate or moderately slow in the underlying loamy material. The plants associated with this site concept in the reference state are well-adapted to waterlogged conditions, but they cannot tolerate excessively long continuous periods of inundation.
Associated sites
R102AY001SD |
Shallow Marsh These sites occur in a basin or closed depression. These soils formed in mineral materials. The site ponds water for long duration often until early summer. The central concept soil series is Oldham, but other series are included. |
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R102AY002SD |
Linear Meadow These sites occur in drainageways. These soils formed in mineral materials. Soils are poorly and very poorly drained which have a water table within 0 to 2 feet of the soil surface that persists longer than the wettest part of the growing season typically until the month of August. The central concept soil series are Vallers and Colvin, but other series are included. |
R102AY004SD |
Wet Meadow These sites occur in a basin or closed depression. These soils formed in mineral materials. The site ponds water for 4 to 8 weeks in the spring of the year or after a heavy rain. The central concept soil series is Tonka, but other series are included. |
Similar sites
R102AY001SD |
Shallow Marsh These sites occur in a basin or closed depression. These soils formed in mineral materials. The site ponds water for long duration often until early summer. The central concept soil series is Oldham, but other series are included. |
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R102AY037SD |
Deep Marsh These sites occur in basins or closed depressions. These soils formed in mineral materials. Soils are very poorly drained and are ponded year round in most years. The central concept soil series Southam, but other series are included. |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
Not specified |
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Shrub |
Not specified |
Herbaceous |
(1) Calamagrostis canadensis |
Click on box and path labels to scroll to the respective text.
Ecosystem states
T1A | - | Diversion of water off-site, typically due to drainage or ditching, or extended periods of drought |
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T1B | - | Impoundment of water on-site, maintenance of water on-site, and/or establishment of invasive species |
T1C | - | Tile, drainage, tilling, seeding, herbicide |
R2 | - | Restoration of reference condition hydrology, seeding, and invasive species removal |
T2A | - | Removal of drainage, impoundment of water on-site, maintenance of water on-site, and/or establishment of invasive species |
T2B | - | Tile, drainage, tilling, seeding, herbicide |
T3 | - | Tile, drainage, tilling, seeding, herbicide |
State 1 submodel, plant communities
1.1A | - | Lack of surface fire and/or periodic drought |
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1.1B | - | Beaver dam off-site restricts water flow or contributes to ponding on-site |
1.2A | - | Frequent surface fires (3 – 5 years) or higher than average precipitation |
1.2B | - | Beaver dam off-site restricts water flow or contributes to ponding on-site |
1.3A | - | Removal of beaver or beaver dam |